Our Story
Have you ever sat through a training that just… didn’t work?
Same here.
For me, it was a terrible workshop that missed every opportunity to inspire ideas and build camaraderie among my colleagues. Endless crowded slides, contrived discussion questions, and irrelevant examples left the whole team staring at the wall clock, watching seconds tick by until we could cross the experience off our collective to-do list.
I thought a lot about why that training didn’t leave the kind of impact we expected. And then it hit me:
The missing ingredient was connection.
Protos Learning was unofficially born in that moment. Since opening our doors in April 2017, our sole focus has been infusing genuine connection into every project and every training. All of us— learners, leaders, team members— carry an incredible collection of knowledge, needs, and experiences into every moment we live. We don’t leave them at the training room door, and we shouldn’t. That’s why Protos Learning crafts strategies and solutions that promote connection to all aspects of our lives: self, peers, leaders, content, and purpose.
Most importantly? We embrace every opportunity with curiosity, a sense of adventure, an eye for connection, and a whole lot of joy. Work is important, and it should be fun, too!
What Guides Us
We genuinely love the work we do. From light bulb moments to sharing stories to plotting a way through the toughest of challenges, we love being part of your journey. Learning is human at its core, and we find joy in every aspect of the experience.
It’s not enough to recommend a strategy and hope it works for you. We’re curious about who your learners are and what adds value to their experience. We want to know about you, your business, and how you want to grow and meet challenges. We ask thoughtful questions and search for exactly the right ways to deliver real value. That way, what we create together will reflect the very people who can benefit the most.
We’re big thinkers who bring an open mind to every engagement, and we love the adventure that learning inspires. Growth often begins at the edge of the familiar, and we know uncharted territory is part of the fun. We love to navigate the unknown, take calculated risks, and move forward even when the path is not fully mapped. If you know where you want to go but can’t envision the route from A to B, consider us your expedition leaders.
The way we learn is rooted to how connected we feel to the content, facilitators, peers, our organizations, and our own experiences. We don’t leave any part of us behind. That’s why we prioritize connection in every project we start. We actively look for opportunities to encourage your entire team to reflect, frame, and act on what they learn through the lens of who they are as individuals as well as team members. That way, they are more likely to enjoy the experience, value the time they spend learning, and put their knowledge into practice through clear behavior change
About Stephanie Hubka, Managing Partner
I accidentally found talent development. I moved to Washington, DC right after graduating with a degree from Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich School of Humanities and Social Sciences with a goal of working on Capitol Hill and running for president. I took a temp job as an education coordinator at a nonprofit and never looked back!
Volunteering is my favorite hobby. Some of my favorite roles have been President of the Metro DC Chapter of ATD and two terms as an ATD National Advisor for Chapters. Currently, I’m back on the Metro DC ATD board as the VP of Membership, and I am a member of ATD’s Chapter Recognition Committee.
Travel is my other favorite hobby. I have visited almost 80 countries, 7 continents, and all 50 US states. My husband Adam and I run the website Road Unraveled, where we document highlights from our adventures. In September 2018, I was named Lonely Planet’s Travel Writer of the Month for an article I wrote about Pie Town, New Mexico.
I’m a lifelong learner. I earned my Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) credential in 2011, and I was Dare to Lead™ Trained in 2022. I rarely let a day pass without watching a webinar, reading a few book chapters, or listening to a podcast to spark my creativity.
Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn!
What our partners say:
“I wasn’t looking forward to another required workshop, but it was the best workshop I have ever taken. I told my boss I would gladly register for anything Stephanie presents. It was that good.”
Stephanie brings the best energy to our work. No matter how challenging a project is, she finds a way to inspire us to look forward to solving problems and achieving our objectives.
Stephanie took the time to really understand what works for us. She gave our team thoughtful, creative approaches to use. Her ability to get to know people on a human level made a big difference.
We gave Stephanie a really tough training to facilitate, and our team can’t stop talking about how much they loved it. The evaluations spoke for themselves: everyone felt like their time was spent well and they learned something they can use.
We had never considered training to be strategic, but Stephanie changed that. She created structures and guidance we’ll be using for years to come, and we’re already seeing a different in our ROI thanks to her help!